San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-12-06
CHAPTER "a WV wnsIn.

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hurried off Valerie to a large bedroom,
where she had the girls wet clothes re-
moved and taken down to be dried.
And bring up cup of hot tea" added
Mrs. Fanshawe, to the maid. And then
we must see how to clothc this young lady.
Not easy" surveying the fragile-loOkmg
creature before her. 81 have no daughters,
you see; there are only my clothes, and
they will hardly fit"
&c. for the time, Valerie was envelOped
in n dressing-gOwn, and Mrs. Fanshawe
went to seek some garment more apprO-
PIRATE to the drawing-rOOm. Presently
she returned with gorgeous tea-gOwn
over her arm and found Valerie drinking
her tea, while the maid was protrering her
pair of shoes.
"If you don't mind wearing them, miss"
she said; they are much too big, of course,
but I'm small and thin, so you could man
age TO get along in Them | think"
"If don't minds" repeated Valerie; at
is very kind of you to offer the shoes.
Yes" putting her pretty feet, clothed in
hose vastly too big, into the shoes, "they
will do beautifully Thank you so much.
Oh! Mrs. Fanshawe," as the lady came
L
much trouble, you make me so unhappy"
Nonsense, my dear; wish | could do
better for you This tea-gOwn Is mon.
strous; but then, as it is loose, it can be
made more presentable by sash round the
middle. Is it long enough Yes, you're
taller than am; but | am stout. There,
declare that looks splendid"
The robe was a rich crimson color, with
deep border of pale yellow flowers; and
Valerie, with her pure, creamy skin, deep
gray eyes, and gOlden-brown tresses; look
ed wonderfully beautiful
"And you don't know anything about
me-" said the girl, smiling at her hostess
frank admiration. you wouldn't let me
tell YOU"
Not till you were dried and clothed.
Now, you can sit down and finish your tea,
and tell me all about it; and then you must
come down and see my husband. Captain
Beauregard will be here by-and-by."
She drew the girl to a seat by her side,
and took the little hand in both her own.
Valerie kissed them impulsively, with
tears in her soft eyes.
"How good you are to me-" she said,
TREMENDOUSLY.
81 shall scold you, my dear, if you sag
such things. Now tell me are you wan.
dering princess?"
mo, Mrs Fanshawe, [ am Valerie Her.
bert-Major Edmund Herbert's daughter"
"MajOr Herbert 5 daughter" Mrs. Fan
Shave put her arm about the girl, and
kissed her "Why, you are not a stranger,
then, my dear, but a cOmrade. | never
saw him, but | know his name; and nc
wonder you are beauty; your mother was
lovely-all the men used to rave about her.
You must be like her!'
Valerie opened her great eyes in genuine
astonishment
"Oh, no, Mrs. Fanshawev' she SAID.
Pooh! you are childn' said the lady,
laughing off what, it flashed across her,
was not, perhaps, very prudent speech,
And what were you doing when Captain
Beauregard found you-making fairy
ringsY'
THAT must be done by moonlight" said
Valerie, gravely. mo! | was walking
from Wexford, where live with my uncle,
and the storm overlook me-"
And Beauregard whipped you up on
the saddle before hinl-that would be his
way" said Mrs. Fanshawe, laughing.
Eyes, he did; but we walked in the town"
"a veritable adventure. Didn't you en-
joy it''
Yes; it was great fun" said Valerie,
her bright eyes dancing. "But Captain
Beauregard must have got his uniform
spoilt"
Mrs. Fanshawe rose, and walked to the
window.
Don't make yourself uneasy on that
head" she said, smiling. ''he wouldn't
mind spelling fifty uniforms in such ser
vice. But how about your uncle, my dear'
Won't he be anxious?"
Eyes" said Valerie, timidly, but can't
let him know | am safe; Captain Beaure-
gard said he would send an orderly, but |
can't bear for anyone to go in this storm.
1t may cease soon"
"If it does not, you will have to yield the
point, my dear. Max Beauregard always
gets his own wayI'
"IIe looks as if he did, said Valerie,
with ndiUCte.
Doesn't he? All! he's vast favorite of
mine-and of everybody's. The men will
do any mortal thing for him. Come, now,
to the drawing-rOOm."
Valerie followed her kind hostess to
large, handsomely-furn room; and
tall, fine-lOoking man of about sixty, with
irOn-gray hair and rugged, but benevolent
face, arose from an armchair, and came
forward.
Robert" said his wife, this is Major
Herbert's daughter-Edmund Herbert, you
know"
SIS she'" exclaimed the General clasp
ing the girls hands warmly in both his
own. Then, my dear, if you could be
more welcome than you are for your own
sake, it would be for your fathers"
Valerie's eyes were blind with tears.
Such kindness as this deprived her of all
power of speech; but the General patted
her gently on the shoulder, and drew her
into seat beside him.
Now, am going to have talk with
you," he said, Il want to know all about
this adventure"
Valerie repeated what she had told Mrs.
Fanshawe.
so you had a ride into town." said he,
laughing. Nov, young lady, confess that
you wanted to catch a glimpse Of your old
friends-the soldiers, eh3"
Eyes; didr' confessed the girl, honest
", though she cOlored. 81 thought some
OF tnem mlgnJ De marching OuC, anu
But the Generals merry laughter cut
her short.
'Well, you had your wish, hadn't your"
he said, land you caught the best-looking
of 'em all--oh! fie! fier'
Don't tease. Robert" said his wife, for
the girl, though she laughed, cOlored still
more deeply. II won't have it,"
miss Herbert won't mind an old fellows
joke, will sheH" said General Fanshawe,
patting the little delicate hand that lay on
her knee.
ono indaadMl she snid looking Nm earn